When you mention you are going to Sicily, people will most often respond with a comment about the Mafia, or maybe the famous Godfather tour. But the largest Mediterranean island off the southern coast of Italy has a rich history as a nexus of global trade (dating all the way back to the ancient Greeks). Sicilian culture, from the food to the fashion to the art, has been influenced by a unique fusion of forces—the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, you name it.

Whether it's fine wine and good food, ancient ruins or majestic beaches you desire, Sicily has it all—plus it’s not as overrun as ever-popular Italian summer destinations like Positano or Capri. That could be why fashion designers, editors, and chefs alike are flocking here instead this summer.